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| Hi, our neighbors old, huge pine/fir tree is dropping dried (yellowish) needles onto our vegetable garden. I heard needles are acidic. Can this affect our garden adversely? We are growing cukes, tomatoes, green peppers, pole beans, radishes, onions. Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Pine needle are slightly acidic but not to extend to make a significant change in pH. The effect will be when they are composted. I used to garden near pine trees canopy and the garden soil had a pH about 6.5. Even then I used to mulch my tomatoes with pine needles/straw. They are good soil amender. But some falling needles can make holes in the leaves. Nothing serious there either. |
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| Many use pine straw to mulch their gardens with no issues at all. I wish I could get my hands on a truckload of it. :) Dave |
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- Posted by ken_adrian MI z5 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 11, 14 at 11:30
| pH is an exponential function ... its a wild exaggeration... but i like to say... to change pH you would need about ten feet of pine needles.. for about 100 years... to SIGNIFICANTLY change soil pH ... as i said.. its an exaggeration... but i hope you get the drift ... as noted.. pine needles for garden mulch are really big.. in certain geographic areas ... apparently not yours... free mulch dude.. dont fight it.. go with it ... ken |
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- Posted by donnabaskets 7b-8 MS (My Page) on Wed, Jun 11, 14 at 13:37
| Pine straw is my mulch of choice. It's easy to manage, easy to move. And free, as stated above. I have used it for twenty years and my soil Ph has remained constant. Count your blessings. (Put it on about six inches thick for best results. it will settle to less depth quickly.) |
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| Nice neighbors to share their pine needles with you :) |
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| I rake up the fallen pine needles in my back yard and compost them and also use them to mulch with. The only thing you need to watch for is ticks, they seem to love them as well. They are something you should be on the look out for while gardening anyway though. |
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| we should all be so lucky, all I get are millions of (MILLIONS) Tree of Heaven seedlings. |
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